Sample Libraries

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. This library/virtual instrument focuses very much on analogue synth‑based sound sources.

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. Borsta's audio engine is designed to simulate natural‑sounding brush playing and it offers 18 different percussion instrument sounds.

Toontrack’s latest EZbass expansion delivers a classic American sound.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 4/5 Stars. This first title in Sonora’s new solo string series expands the frontiers with a large set of atmospheric articulations beautifully performed by Alan Black, distinguished principal cellist with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.

Ask anyone in the know about trends in music technology, and the reply will probably contain the word ‘democratised’. DAW...

NI and Sonuscore take assisted string arranging to another level with Action Strings 2.

We all know you can score a movie or compose a symphony from the comfort of your DAW, but what can orchestral sample libraries do for other genres of music?

With hundreds of products crowding the marketplace, choosing an orchestral library can be a daunting experience. Sound On Sound's Buyer’s Guide aims to help you find a way through the maze.

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. Hosted by either the full or free Player version of Kontakt 6.4 or later, Quantum is a two‑layer instrument dedicated to producing pad and drone sounds.

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. Built from detailed sampling of chromatically tuned metal discs, Alloy Vol I's tones are reminiscent of chromatic orchestral percussion, hang drums, steel drums and tubular bells...

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. If you like big synth drones, The Stack will not disappoint...

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. Contemporary Colours’ designers describe the sounds as being rooted in contemporary classical and theatrical styles that combine instrumental and electronic music.

Sonokinetic’s Orchestral Strings is as playable as it is high quality.

Orchestration Assistants Audio Example 01.mp3

This example features UJAM’s Striiiings. The audio example demonstrates...

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. Slow offers a selection of mainly gentle sounds that would slot well into ambient or New Age compositions...

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. Need the distinctive tones of a dobro guitar, but can't play the real thing? IK Multimedia’s The Resonator can help plug your skill gap...

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. These affordable mini‑libraries provide users with the immediately recognisable and colourful instrumental combinations frequently heard in classic movie scores.

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. This 3GB of sample content is aimed at the more raucous end of the drumming scale; think rock, garage, punk and grunge.

Toontrack add a fine and upstanding acoustic expansion for EZbass.